The 23rd annual Downtown Urban Arts Festival (DUAF) will present the works of 18 playwrights from Wednesday, June 11 through Saturday, June 28 at Joe’s Pub and Theater Row.
In 2001, the theater program at DUAF was founded with the purpose of building a repertoire of new American theatre that echoes the true spirit of urban life and whose lives defy categorizing along conventional lines.The schedule is as follows
June 11 at Theatre Row
A CONVERSATION WITH SARAH JONES at 8:00PM
Artistic Director Reg E. Gaines chats with Tony winner Sarah Jones about her career and New York Theatre.
June 13-14 at Joe’s Pub
AMERICA, WHO HURT YOU? BY SARAH JONES at 7:00PM
Tony Award winner Sarah Jones makes a much-anticipated return to the New York stage in America, Who Hurt You? Our country has always been a hot mess. But now, between political rage, climate crises, and social media polarization, it’s quite literally on fire. This low-key mid apocalyptic moment has raised a question for Sarah Jones and her many characters: America, Who Hurt You?
JUNE 12 – JUNE 28 at THEATRE ROW
June 12
Good Grief
A group of men come together weekly to share their experiences with loss. By opening up about the pain of losing loved ones – whether wives or cherished pets – they discover the universal weight of grief and find healing through vulnerability and friendship.
Admitted
When a skeptical police officer works detail to watch over an alleged criminal conspiracy theorist who’s handcuffed to a hospital bed, the question arises – when one speaks truth, do you consider the person who’s speaking that truth?
June 13
As I Eat The World
A latiné man confronts his mental health and eating disorders by attempting to literally EAT THE WORLD.
June 14
7 Actors. 1 Room by Matthew Keaton
At their final rehearsal, director Luther halts the session, sparking a tense meeting where deep personal conflicts and animosities unravel among the cast of 7 actors. With tensions boiling over and the pressure mounting, the actors are forced to confront their struggles, frustrations with the industry, and the harsh realities of their pasts that reveal the complexities of their relationships with each other.
June 18
Arrivals Until the Departure
Arrivals Until the Departure transcends time and shows us the power of love and acceptance even in the face of tragedy. This play invites laughter, contemplation, and a wave of peace as we bear witness to the tumultuous chaos of Amina’s life.
Waiting for the 6 Train
Vashti, Scout, and Penn are three freshmen in college, new to New York City. After a night out, they get stuck on a 6 train platform, waiting for a mysterious train that is inexplicably delayed. Will it ever come, and will the girls be able to return home safely?
June 19
Black in the First Degree
This play is a provocative and visceral look at the dynamic between White Police Officers and Young Black Males. Seen in the “wrong” neighborhood at the “wrong time” causes a Young Black male to go from a citizen to a perp; by an over eager White Cop. They square off and it ends in tragedy!!
Salome, The Tragedy of the Femme Fatale
You’re invited to meet the original vamp in a one-woman piece that explores the life of the feminine enigma–whose sexuality and cold brutality history has exploited–from her origins as an unwanted child to the dance that would make her infamous.
June 20
Luv No Limit
A poetic exploration of love, identity, and resilience as two gay Black men navigate the tumultuous intersection of personal desire and societal oppression. Their journey tests the transformative power of love, forcing them to confront their deepest fears and the truths they hide from themselves and each other.
June 21
Face Value
A successful writer is in for a ride when he hires a fiery new publicist who exceeds his so-called (s)expertise. When their professional research becomes personal, their preconceived notions are put to the test – maybe sex doesn’t have to be the most intimate form of connection.
June 25
Letter
On the way from Tokyo to Los Angeles, he begins to write a letter. About his work as a schoolteacher, his neon-lit nights in the porn industry, and the mother he will never see again.
I Should Be Obliterated
As an asteroid hurtles toward New York, the city’s loneliest souls contemplate their existence.
June 26
The Train Stoppers
Who really stops the MTA trains? THE TRAIN STOPPERS takes you on a 20-minute ride questioning what you think you know is true, what you know you know is true, and if universal truth even matters. Existential crises have never been more fun!
Twenty-Six Minutes
A story of two strangers, both with bouquets of flowers, awaiting a delayed train. The piece is intended to highlight the nature of how objects take us to different places, but, at the same time, may bring us together.
June 27
Conquering the Canon
Michael Hagins may be the only artist to ever complete the Shakespeare Canon. But with every great achievement…comes a great loss.
June 28
Fresno
Haunted by his memory of an early childhood UFO abduction, long-estranged son Ernie, returns home to his dying repressive father, The Old Vato, and his dangerous half-brother Paco, only to learn the truth about the mysterious disappearance of his beloved half-brother Angel.
For more information and ticketing, click here.
